NHS framework | NEWS
January, 2022
End of year budget? The NHS Framework that saves time and money.
Many Trusts utilise this NHS Framework before the end of March to simplify the procurement process, use the direct award option and save time/money. The Framework is for IT Hardware and Services (Link 3). It has been developed by two NHS organisations – NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (NOE CPC).
Utilising the NHS Framework before the end of March offers the following benefits:
- Free to access for all NHS Trusts and public sector organisations
- Direct award option
- ‘Best in class’ IT healthcare supplier
- Cost savings indicative of 25% rather than going direct
- OJEU compliant – saving valuable time and resource
- Simplifies procurement
- Access approved within 24 hours
- Personalised NHS procurement support
- Comprehensive procurement exercise already undertaken
- Any Framework profits are returned to the NHS
- Use of NHS call-off terms and order form template
The new NHS framework has been jointly created by NHS SBS and NOE CPC.
Many NHS Trusts used the previous LINK NHS frameworks which were hugely popular. Being a long-term supplier on the previous NHS frameworks has helped shape our ability to provide cost-effective IT solutions and services that have helped deliver large-scale digital transformation projects.
“Building on the success of our previous LINK 2 framework, the new Link 3 agreement gives organisations the continuity to purchase cost-effective end user devices to meet their varied organisational needs.
With Specialist Healthcare related IT Hardware in scope under Lot 4 of the framework to access the latest PC/laptop carts and peripherals, clinical displays and peripherals; the framework offers a specialist and compliant route to market for such devices and more.”
Alison Petrie, Senior Category Manager at NOE CPC
The framework guarantees best value with indicative savings of 25% compared to buying from a supplier at list price, potentially cost-saving the NHS £250m. NHS Trusts can save time with simplified procurement, by taking advantage of the NHS procurement exercise already undertaken when creating the OJEU compliant framework.
“With a comprehensive procurement exercise already undertaken to establish the framework, NHS and other public sector organisations can save valuable time and resource when accessing the framework to procure general and specialist IT hardware at highly competitive public sector prices”.
Alison Petrie, Senior Category Manager at NOE CPC
Benefits of using the NHS framework.
“The framework has been carefully negotiated to ensure it offers the latest devices with highly competitive public sector pricing. With a comprehensive procurement exercise already undertaken, NHS and other public sector organisations can save valuable time and resource by directly awarding or carrying out mini-competitions as required.
This new framework has been developed to build on the success of our previous Link: 2 IT Hardware framework agreement, which was very well used by the NHS and wider public sector and has been critical to many organisations as they have responded to the challenges presented by the pandemic.”
Phil Davies, Director of Procurement at NHS SBS